College Internship Placement
Start-up Cost:$1,500-$3,000
Potential Earnings:$20,000-$50,000
Typical Fees:$75-$175 (paid by student/parents)
Advertising:College newspapers, campus bulletin boards, direct mail to parents
Qualifications:Background in placement services would be helpful
Equipment Needed:Computer with printer, fax/modem, e-mail address
Potential Home Business:Yes
Staff Required:No
Handicapped opportunity:Yes
Hidden Costs:Insurance, on-line time
Lowdown:
It used to be that companies offering internships contacted colleges to find students for summer or short-term work. But, in the ever-competitive '90s, such companies are relying increasingly upon services such as yours to bring them talent in exchange for small pay and experience. It's challenging work to find a suitable internship for a student (and vice versa), and you'll have enough resources to choose from at your local library. There are plenty of books that detail such opportunities, and there should be plenty of postings for internships through on-line services or the Internet. You'd have to work pretty hard to exhaust all of the possibilities. You'd be wise to market to the parents of students, as they are typically the ones with the foresight to see the importance of an internship; they also are typically the ones with all the money, too!
Start-up:
You'll need to have at least $1,500 for your computer system and another $1,000 or so for advertising in your first six months. Charging customers $75-$175 (depending on the size of the university or college market you're serving) will likely lead you to an annual salary of $20,000-$50,000 per year.
Bottomline:
Your work will be different every day, and the challenges will present themselves on a regular basis, too. Often, you'll work with folks you simply can't seem to please, or who don't come across as highly motivated. Remember that part of your job is to sell the student on the importance of internships-what they can mean later on to a job-seeking student is immeasurable.
